Factoids

The majority of the planet’s liquid freshwater is stored in underground aquifers. It’s important to remember that groundwater pollution is very difficult to treat, and it doesn’t just “flush out” on its own. Water that enters an aquifer remains there for an average of 1,400 years!

— www.grinningplanet.com

Two-thirds of US estuaries and bays are either moderately or severely degraded from eutrophication (nitrogen and phosphorus pollution).

— www.grinningplanet.com

The Mississippi River carries an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of Mexico each year. The resulting hypoxic coastal dead zone in the Gulf each summer is about the size of Massachusetts.

— www.grinningplanet.com

In any given year, about 25% of beaches in the US are under advisories or are closed at least one time because of water pollution.

— www.grinningplanet.com

Just one quart of oil can contaminate up to a quarter million gallons of drinking water or cause an oil slick almost 2 acres in size.

— www.glc.org

Oil destroys the waterproofing and insulating properties of plumage in birds by disrupting the microscopic structure of the feathers.

— www.glc.org

Exposing the aerial portions of plants to petroleum products indirectly affects a plant's underground root system. Experimental evidence has showed that oil on vegetation reduces the oxygen diffusion out of both stems and roots.

— www.glc.org

Backyard mechanics dump more used oil into Michigan’s environment each year than the Exxon Valdez spilled into Alaska’s Prince William Sound.

— www.glc.org

The amount of petroleum products ending up in the ocean is estimated at 0.25% of world oil production: about 6 million tons per year.

— www.nasa.gov

Widespread manmade pollution of the sea that can be detected by current spaceborne systems is concentrated in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

— www.nasa.gov

Within thirty years a billion more people will be living along the coasts than are alive today.

— www.nasa.gov

Crude oil contains about 85% carbon, making carbon the most dominant element.

— www.outboardmotoroilblog.com

Oil was formed more than 300 million years ago.

— interestingenergyfacts.blogspot.com